The target area is located in four blocks of Pratapgarh districts which are located far away from the district and Tehsil headquarters. The road connectivity is very weak in the targeted villages. The target communities consist of SC like CHAMAR & PASI, Muslim like FAKIR, JOGI, JULAHA, DHUNIYA, MANIHAR, DAFALI and KUJADA and women others. The total no. of families includes 22674, out of which 4757 (21%) are SC, 3914 (18%) Muslims and 14003 belong to women and others (61%). The total population is 1, 29,159. The male population is 53% (68,312) and female is 43% (60,436). As per census 2001, SC constitutes 21% population while Muslims are among three largest religious groups. On other hand, they are weak at social, economic and political levels.

It has estimated that literacy rate is 29.84% among male and 16.43% among female. The total literacy rate is 23.13%. The dropout rate is 75% among girls and 40% among boys. It has experienced that girls do not enjoy higher studies as they used to dropout from the regular schooling due to family and economic reasons. The children of SCs face discrimination during registration in schools and while studying in schools. The teachers called Muslims’ children by giving different names i.e. MIYWA, KATUA, MULLA, TURUK while SC children are called CHAMARGUDDI & CHAMARWA. The women do not have any role in decision making of their family. In addition, the women especially Muslim women cannot move in free manner in society due to existence of social and religious restrictions and fundamentals.

Women of these caste and religious groups are also discriminated to access the benefits of JSY and nutrition programme of AWC. Both the ASHA and ANMs do not visit these families. They either do not get benefits of “JSY” (JANANI SURAKSHA YOJANA). If they gets then only by paying 25 to 35% commissions. They also need to pay money for making their immunization cards to the ANMs. The women do not receive the facility of nutrition as they have not been registered in Anganwadi centres.

The targeted communities are economically weak as 85% live below poverty lines. The migration rate among SC is higher than Muslim community due to economic conditions. Only 5% families are having BPL cards. Although, the names of rest families are registered, but they are not issued the BPL cards. The SC families are having agricultural labourer. The land entitlements (not agricultural land) are issued to very limited families, while Muslim families are deprived of such entitlements.

Daily labour is the only source of income. In general, male received Rs. 100/- as daily labour charges while women get Rs. 60. Due to their social background, they are not able to get the opportunities of 100 days work in NREGA programme. The money lenders forced them to become bonded labour.

Muslim women are involved in Bidi making and they received Rs. 20/- on an average per day. The women especially Muslim women do not go out of their families in absence of not getting daily labour. Due to poor economic conditions, SC and Muslim families are not able to get proper food. They are able to buy vegetables only for two to three days in a week. In addition, the families are not getting the benefits of NREGA in full manner. For instance, they are not getting 100 days labour but also their labour charges differ in times. It was experienced that they get work for only 30 to 35 days. It has been estimated that 85% Muslim community and 70% SC and other backward people of the targeted area do not receive job under MNREGA. As a result, they are forced to migrate to other cities for work. The situation among women is also not encouraging. The women neither get job cards on their names nor get work. (Source: Random sampling & FGDs conducted within community by all partner organisations)

In target villages, the SC and extremely poor communities are exploited by money lenders during their needs. They take interest Rs. 10 to Rs. 25 for per Rs. 100/-. It is estimated that 60% SC and 25% Muslim are exploited. On other hand, the services of bank and other financial institutions are not reachable to women of targeted groups. They are forced to work in agricultural land of moneylenders. The time period and wages are not fixed for doing such labour. The moneylenders calculate the time period according to their calculation.

The govt. services are not reached to targeted community due to corruptions and middle men to very extent. It has been noted that villages having SC and Muslim families do not have Anganwadi centres. The health functionaries do not visit to their villages. It was experienced that there is not a single SC and Muslim families appointed as a cook for preparing midday meal in targeted areas. The targeted community could not build any pressure due to weak social and political image. .Both the communities are politically weak.

Key Strategies Proposed for the Project:

The core strategy of the project would be “JISKA MUDDA USKI LADAI, JISKI LADAI USKI AGUWAI i.e. fighting for rights of own issue by affected communities under self leadership. It means the issues should be recognized by the communities affected and the community should fight for the same and take initiative in the form of leading the issue.